Category Archives: LCBO Quick Pick list

Kids say the darnedest things. Even when they are 31 years old. My girl, M, keeps referring to La Vieille Ferme as the “chicken wine”.

Now there’s several things cute [or darnedest] about that …

1. It’s a Rooster – well technically i guess a rooster is a chicken so maybe she’s right on that one

2. The name La Vieille Ferme is actually right there on the bottle – however, the drawing of the chickens is probably more interesting than meaningless french words – so i’ll concede that one to her too

3. She admitted to me that it was open for a week and still tasted good – I’ve never had a bottle of wine stay unfinished for a week so i have to give her that one on self-control alone . Also, she was using the vacuum suctiony thingy i bought her just for that purpose [see post on Weinfrischhalter Geschenskset] so good for you M for listening to your dad.

4. If she’s already right on 3 counts then who’s to argue about it still tasting good.

Also, i think she’s smarter than me and i love her so i’m inclined to agree with whatever she’s talking about – especially when she likes one of my favourite wines.

2015 is not a leap year – at least we don’t get a leap day. However thanks to the fine work of the people at the International Earth Rotation and something something service, we get a leap second this summer! Who knows why – i’ve read dozens of web sites about it and i think some Time Lord is doing something on the Space-Time continuum and doing Doctor Who-knows-what with our clocks.

Here are my options of what to do with my extra second?

Cook 1 second’s worth of minute rice

Slowly spell “Mississippi” or alternately count “one steamboat”

Give my second away to a friend so that they have two [which now that i write that seems rather reckless to throw a precious gift like this away]

Sneak in another double espresso that i thought i didn’t have time to drink

Carefully manipulate that second to improve the timing on a great joke

Fire a champagne cork across my back yard at the neighbour’s house

Oooh, maybe I can carefully coordinate my family to do the minute rice, Mississippi, double espresso, tell a joke, and champagne cork all at the same time. Sign up now kids for the one you want – Dad’s having fun again!

What am I drinking to celebrate my new found leap second? Well at 400 bubbles per second a glass of wine seems like the only rational choice. Segura Viudas Reserva Cava, $14.95. I don’t have the time to get too technical about the tasting notes but suffice it to say that it is delicious and reminds me of a white bubbly wine that tastes like grapes.

This winter i’ve committed to trying new wines at the LCBO and i think i’ve found the best aisle in the store – Argentina to the right of me and Chile to the left. I’m no historian but it seems like these countries even get along. They coexistence peacefully in the wine store at least.

Right now my new favourite wine for under $10 is the Santa Rita 120 Cab Franc / Carmenere / Cab Sav blend. I like the fresh Cabernet Franc taste and i love the price.

Hey, turns out that “120” refers to 120 Chilean freedom fighters who took on the Spanish Independence war of 1814 and hid in the Santa Rita cellars. Doesn’t sound very peaceful anymore.

Sometimes you don’t even have to travel to another country to get a good sense of what it would be like living there. I still imagine a vacation in Germany where everyone is yelling Gewürztraminer [ɡəˈvʏɐtstʁaˈmiːnɐ] to each other. And as an aside, does anyone find [ɡəˈvʏɐtstʁaˈmiːnɐ] helpful in learning how to pronounce this word?

In the English speaking world everyone knows that cats say “meow” when they decide that it’s time to speak to somebody. However, in Japan cats appearantly say “nyan, nyan” to each other and to people who are willing to listen. And all evidence suggests that there are people ready to not only listen – but to pour the little kitty a glass of wine and sit down together and enjoy each other’s company. Yes, have a glass of wine with your cat because a company called B&H Lifes is producing a wine made specifically for cats called Nyan Nyan Nouveau [click for full-size article]. The wine is non-alcoholic – because ain’t nobody wants to see a cat drunk – and it seems like a sweet idea to share a drink with your pet.

For those of you who want a more traditional wine to drink and think of your cat [and i don’t mean for you to let your cat drink this wine] how about a play on words and your try the Chateau Hauchat [very loosely translated for the purposes of this wine blog as “there cat”] – a lovely Bordeaux red wine from this past Vintages release [Vintages 123489, $15.95]. Featuring a sublte cedar and tobacco undertones that give it the character of a $30 fine wine combined with plum and with fresh fruit overtones it is a steal at this price. Meow.

Any new year’s resolutions? My sister-in-Spain’s resolution was to replace all the light bulbs in her house that were blown out – lofty goal indeed. I guess light bulbs in Spain are way more complicated than they are here in Guelph.

How about getting serious about wine this year? I was horrified last week to discover that my daughter in Toronto was drinking a glass of mediocre red that had been opened for 6 days already! Come on M – I think you can get seriously ill on that stuff. I almost got seriously ill thinking of one of my own drinking inadequate wine.

So I took matters into my own hands took control of the situation [which as i understand kids like their dads to do] in this manner.

1. I bought her a Weinfrischhalter Geschenskset “wine suctiony vacuumy thing” as brother-in-spain calls it. Since it now comes in sage [a colour I just learned while purchasing the W-G] it is now as attractive to look at as it is to say.

La Vielle Ferme [$11] because the old farm never disappoints when a rustic Côtes du Rhône is on the menu

Luccarelli’s Primitivo – at under $10 it is a steal – the new Italian Job if you like

120 Santa Rita Cab blend from Chile – also under $10 and delightfully heavy on the cab franc

I can sleep easier knowing that my girl is safe and sound when i can’t be around to pour a decent glass of wine for her. Hopefully she’s saying Weinfrischhalter Geschenskset and giggling to her own amusement at funny German words like i do.

There is only one winner in a contest like this – and that winner is me. Having a house full of friends eating and drinking unpretentious wine is the best of all worlds.

But in a very real way 3 wines won this year’s Nouveau competition. Here’s how I saw it anyhoo.

#1. Georges DuBoeuf Gamay Nouveau – at $10 it is a great price point. Tart, juicy, and a bit of effervescence. This, in my humble opinion [which is the only one that counts in my wine blog] is the perfect Nouveau. So good that I only have empties left.

#2. Mommessin – at $14 it’s not a crazy “fou” price and it inspirted the art that my girls draw every year on our chalkboard. The smoothest, most well balanced of them all. I have a couple left to serve with American Thanksgiving turkey this week.

#3. Georges again – this time with this fancy label Beaujolais Villages Nouveau, that is a little pricey at $15 but what cha gonna do? Georges knows Nouveau. Good enough to tuck away in my cellar until Christmas and even as long as Easter.

Heavy Criticism Alert. Hey Joseph Drouhin. Stop trying to charge me $16 for Nouveau. You were very tasty but I could save my money and buy more of those expensive French copper pots I love if you would charge me $10 like you should.

Thanks to all the other wines that participated. Here are my thoughts on you.

Italian wine … you tasted too much like Uncle Tony’s garage wine at the end. I liked your effort at rustic but it turned out a little too rustic if you know what I mean. And Ontario wine … I like Jolly Ranchers as much as the next guy but sweet jolly rancher wine is not my idea of a Nouveau. Art … I just didn’t like you. Nothing personal. I know that sounded personal but it’s not. I will buy you again next year.